Last week was characterized by a dominance of disinformation in the misinformation ecosystem in Kosovo. The disinformation included old news re-introduced as current related to the final Kosovo-Serbia agreement. There was also disinformation about a Russian attack on the Western Balkans (old news), about preventing the coronation of the Serbian patriarch, and about the search for workers from Great Britain.
Regarding the manipulation of facts, Serbian media have claimed that the Romanian national team will not accept to play against Kosovo, despite the Romanian Football Federation not saying such a thing.
Clickbait articles about criticism of Kosovar judokas, the recognition of Albanian and Kosovo driver's licenses by the German state, and the draft law to fine people up to 1000 francs who cover their faces in France.
Last week, Alfred Cako's conspiracy theories took hold, as did errors regarding the price of fuel, and fraud regarding the publication of photographs of non-Albanian women, misleadingly claiming that they were looking for a love relationship.
disinformation
The dubious portal with content in the Albanian language “news426media.com” published on October 11 an article titled “Great Britain 'armors' Albania and Kosovo/ Russian threat, British minister: Send weapons to the Western Balkans too!” After verifying the facts presented in this article, hibrid.info has confirmed that the title is fabricated and does not correspond to the content, while the news is old, published in April. Truss has never specifically mentioned Albania and Kosovo, as claimed in the title. (here)
The dubious portal with content in the Albanian language “news426media.com” published on October 11 an article titled “News from the EU is coming, next week Kosovo and Serbia sign the long-awaited agreement”. Hibrid.info has verified the facts in this article, and has confirmed that the title of the article is fabricated, while the news is old, published in June. The photograph used in this article by this dubious portal shows the portrait of the President of the European Committee, Ursula von der Leyen, while the article has nothing to do with this political figure. (here)
The Serbian information portal “Srbijadanas.com” has published an article claiming that Albin Kurti will attempt to prevent the coronation of Patriarch Porfiri on October 14 at the Patriarchate of Peja. Based on their claims, Kurti will prohibit Patriarch Porfiri from entering Kosovo, and even if he grants permission under international pressure, he will organize protests through extremist groups to prevent his coronation. Regarding the permission to enter Kosovo, the Patriarch has arrived at the Patriarchate of Peja where his coronation took place. Other claims are tendentious and unfounded in facts or relevant information. (here)
The dubious portal “fakti.seedoof.com” has published an old article from 2021, when the United Kingdom was looking for 2 million workers. This dubious portal has tried to present this article as current, giving it a false title that the content contains job application procedures. (here)
The dubious portal “news426media.com” has published an old news item from June, which it has tried to present as current by putting the sentence “BREAKING NEWS” in the title. The content contains the statement made on June 5 by the head of the Russian Space Agency, Dmitry Rogozin, who at the time had openly threatened a nuclear attack by Russia against the Balkan countries (Montenegro, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Romania), after they did not allow the plane of the head of Russian diplomacy Sergei Lavrov to violate their airspace to carry out a visit to Serbia. (here)
Manipulation of facts
The Serbian media outlet “Novosti” in an article published on October 11th has claimed that the Romanian national team will not accept to play against Kosovo. The Romanian Football Federation has announced that it will discuss with the Romanian government regarding the conditions of the match with the Kosovo national team, without stating anywhere that it will not accept to face the Kosovo national team. Despite the fact that the Romanian Football Federation has not said that they will not play against the Kosovo national team, some Serbian-language media outlets have interpreted the headline as a decision not to face the Kosovo national team. (here)
Clickbait
The information portal "Paparaci.com" has published an article where the title refers to a criticism of judo coach Driton Kuka, while a photograph was used as an illustration where coach Kuka is with his hands turned away from judoka Distria Krasniqi. In fact, as we learn from the content of the article, it is about criticism of judoka Laura Fazliu, and not as the illustrative photograph suggests. (here)
The dubious portal “seedoof.com” has published an old article regarding the driver's licenses of Albania and Kosovo, which are recognized by the German state. This old news from February, this dubious portal has tried to present as current. (here)
“Kosovapost.net” has published an article regarding the submission of a draft law to the parliament by the Swiss Government, with the request to fine people up to 1000 francs who cover their faces. However, this medium in the title has implied that this decision has entered into force and that the same applies to people who wear the Islamic veil “burqa”. In the article published by the online medium “AlJazeera.com” it becomes clear that this draft law does not specify only for people who wear “burqa” or “nikab”, but for all those who cover their faces in general. (here)
Conspiracy theory
Albanian conspiracy theorist Alfred Cako recently predicted that the internet would disappear in 10 days, and there would be darkness. Alfred Cako had made predictions about the internet crashing or disappearing and the consequences that would follow several times before. In addition to predictions about the internet, Cako also made unfounded predictions about Trump's arrest and Joe Biden's removal from the US presidency. (here)
Lies
The Facebook page called “Agjension Lidhjes Martesore” publishes photos of non-Albanian women, which it presents as being from Albania and Kosovo. Through these photos of foreign characters from adult films, various performers and women from the world of sports, this page presents them as Albanian, misleadingly claiming that they are looking for a love relationship. (here)
Fake news
The dubious portal “fakti.seedoof.com” has published an article with the false claim that the photograph showing a female (teacher) wearing a short dress is of a teacher in a school in Kosovo. However, after verifying the facts, hibrid.info has managed to find this photograph published on a Lithuanian portal in the article titled “The most beautiful teachers, thanks to whom students will not want to miss lessons”. So, the photograph was not taken in the premises of any school in Kosovo, as falsely claimed in the title of the article. (here)
error
The portal “GazetaExpress.com” published an article on October 15 claiming that the price of gasoline and gas has increased by 1 cent compared to the day before (October 14). However, after verifying the facts, hibrid.info has confirmed that this claim made by “GazetaExpress.com” is not correct. In the announcement of the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade (MINT) made today (October 15), it becomes clear that only the price of gasoline has increased by 1 cent compared to the day before (October 14). So, the price of oil and gas has remained the same. Meanwhile, the other portal “Periskopi.com” that published the article by “GazetaExpress.com” also incorrectly claimed in the title that the price of oil has increased, while in the content it is stated that “compared to yesterday, the price of oil has remained the same”. This portal, like "GazetaExpress.com", has also incorrectly claimed in its content that the price of gas has also increased. (here)